Rob Portman

Portman was born in 1955, in Cincinnati, Ohio, the son of Joan (née Jones) and William C. "Bill" Portman II. His family was Presbyterian.{{Cite web|url=http://www.biography.com/people/rob-portman-20840137|title=Rob Portman Biography|website=www.biography.com|language=en-us|access-date=January 30, 2017|archive-date=January 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170114001208/http://www.biography.com/people/rob-portman-20840137|url-status=dead}}[http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20120624/NEWS010607/306240005/The-loyal-soldier-Rob-Portman-next-vice-president- "The Loyal Soldier: Is Rob Portman the next vice president?" Cincinnati Enquirer, June 25, 2012. By Dan Horn and Deirdre Shesgreen.]

Image:The Golden Lamb Inn and Restaurant.JPG, Ohio's oldest continually operating restaurant and inn,{{cite news|url=http://www.goldenlamb.com/pages/history/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207002433/http://www.goldenlamb.com/pages/history/ |archive-date=February 7, 2012 |title=History: Overview |publisher=The Golden Lamb. goldenlamb.com|access-date=February 15, 2018}} is owned by the Portman family.]]

File:Bush Contact Sheet P17124 (cropped).jpg in 1990]]

In 1926, Portman's grandfather Robert Jones purchased the Golden Lamb Inn in Lebanon, Ohio, and, together with his future wife Virginia Kunkle Jones, refurbished it and decorated it with antique collectibles and Shaker furniture.{{cite news|url=http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2004/03/28/loc_o.jones28.html|title=Virginia K. Jones owned landmark Golden Lamb Inn: Family still owns her 'labor of love'|newspaper=The Cincinnati Enquirer|date=May 28, 2004|access-date=December 15, 2012}} The couple ran the inn together until 1969, when they retired.{{cite news|url=http://www.historiclebanonohio.com/?q=book/export/html/22|title=The Golden Lamb Inn|publisher=Historic Lebanon, Ohio|access-date=December 15, 2012}}

When Portman was young, his father started the Portman Equipment Company, a forklift dealership where he and his siblings worked growing up.{{Citation needed|reason=Previous citation was Portman's election website, which cannot be accepted as a source|date=August 2019}} From his mother Joan, a liberal Republican, Portman inherited his sympathy for the Republican Party.{{cite web|url=http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/insight/2010/08/29/meticulous-has-an-adventurous-side-that-led-him-into-politics.html|title=Meticulous Rob Portman has an adventurous side that led him into politics|date=August 29, 2010|work=The Columbus Dispatch|access-date=August 10, 2012}}

Portman graduated from Cincinnati Country Day School in 1974 and attended Dartmouth College, where he started leaning to the right, and majored in anthropology and earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1978.{{cite news |url=http://www.biography.com/people/rob-portman-20840137 |title=Rob Portman.biography |publisher=Biography.com |year=2013 |access-date=April 2, 2013 |archive-date=March 7, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130307063736/http://www.biography.com/people/rob-portman-20840137 |url-status=dead }} In Cincinnati, Portman worked on Bill Gradison's congressional campaign, and Gradison soon became a mentor to Portman. Portman next entered the University of Michigan Law School, earning his Juris Doctor degree in 1984 and serving as vice president of the student senate.{{cite web |url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=p000449 |title=PORTMAN, Robert Jones (Rob) - Biographical Information |website=Biographical Directory of the United States Congress |publisher=United States Congress}} During law school, he embarked on a kayaking and hiking trip across China and met Jane Dudley, whom he married in 1986.{{Cite news |url=http://www.cincinnatimagazine.com/features/story.aspx?ID=1756922 |title=Cincinnati Kid: Jane Portman |publisher=Cincinnati Magazine |date=September 1, 2012 |access-date=December 10, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121216134201/http://www.cincinnatimagazine.com/features/story.aspx?ID=1756922 |archive-date=December 16, 2012 |url-status=dead }} After graduating from law school, Portman moved to Washington, D.C., where he worked for the law firm Patton Boggs. Some describe his role there as a lobbyist; others say that such a description is inaccurate.{{cite web|last=Tapper|first=Jake|title=The Dartmouth Caucus|url=http://dartmouthalumnimagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/reprint-March-2000.pdf|work=Dartmouth Alumni Magazine|access-date=August 10, 2012|author-link=Jake Tapper|date=March 2000|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222174225/http://dartmouthalumnimagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/reprint-March-2000.pdf|archive-date=February 22, 2014|url-status=dead}}{{cite news |title=Rob Portman background |url= http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/p/rob_portman/index.html|newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=August 10, 2012|first=Adam|last=Nagourney}}{{cite web|last=Tapper |first=Jake |author-link=Jake Tapper |title=The Dartmouth Caucus (2011) |url= http://dartmouthalumnimagazine.com/the-dartmouth-caucus/ |work=Dartmouth Alumni Magazine|access-date=August 10, 2012 |date=July–August 2011}}{{cite news |url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/republican-rob-portman-who-could-a-vice-presidential-contender-is-a-washington-insider/2012/07/16/gJQArcQCpW_story.html |title=Republican Rob Portman, who could be a vice presidential contender, is a Washington insider |date=July 16, 2012 |newspaper=The Washington Post |last2=Crites|first2=Alice |access-date=July 17, 2012 |first1=Jerry|last1=Markon |quote='He was not in any classic or normal sense a lobbyist,' said Stuart M. Pape, a Patton Boggs partner who supervised Portman.}} Portman next became an associate at Graydon Head & Ritchey LLP, a law firm in Cincinnati.[http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2012/08/rob_portman_was_drawn_from_top.html Rob Portman was drawn from 'top notch' law career to public service.] August 11, 2012. Sabrina Eaton, The Cleveland Plain Dealer. Retrieved August 22, 2012.

In 1989, Portman began his career in government as an associate White House Counsel under President George H. W. Bush.{{cite news |newspaper=The New York Times|title=Bush Loyalist's New Role Is 'Facilitator' in House |date=February 16, 2003 |access-date=July 13, 2012 |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2003/02/16/us/bush-loyalist-s-new-role-is-facilitator-in-house.html |first=David|last=Rosenbaum}} From 1989 to 1991, he served as Bush's deputy assistant and director of the White House Office of Legislative Affairs. While serving as White House counsel, Portman visited China, Egypt, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.{{cite news |url= http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2012/07/18/on_vp_list_pawlenty__portman_boast_foreign_policy_heft_114824.html |title=On VP List, Pawlenty & Portman Boast Foreign Policy Heft |publisher=RealClearPolitics |date=July 18, 2012 |access-date=December 10, 2012}}

In 1993, Portman entered a special election to fill the seat of Congressman Bill Gradison of Ohio's second congressional district, who had stepped down to become president of the Health Insurance Association of America. In the Republican primary, Portman faced six-term Congressman Bob McEwen, who had lost his Sixth District seat to Ted Strickland in November 1992; real estate developer Jay Buchert, president of the National Association of Home Builders; and several lesser known candidates.

In the primary, Portman was criticized for his previous law firm's work for Haitian president Baby Doc Duvalier.{{cite news|title=McEwen, Portman targeted in campaign commercial|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PJpFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5997,4923815&dq=prince-rob+portman&hl=en|newspaper=Daily Times|date=February 18, 1993}} Buchert ran campaign commercials labeling Portman and McEwen "Prince Rob and Bouncing Bob." Portman lost four of the district's five counties, but won the largest, Hamilton County, his home county and home to 57% of the district's population. Largely on the strength of his victory in Hamilton, Portman took 17,531 votes (36%) overall, making him the winner.

In the general election, Portman defeated the Democratic nominee, attorney Lee Hornberger, 53,020 (70%) to 22,652 (29%).{{cite news|title=Democrats and Republicans Split Races for House Seats in 2 States|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/05/06/us/democrats-and-republicans-split-races-for-house-seats-in-2-states.html|newspaper=The New York Times|date=May 6, 1993}}

Portman was reelected in 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, and 2004, defeating Democrats Les Mann,{{cite news|title=Ohio GOP picks up 4 Washington seats|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=kw5KAAAAIBAJ&pg=3328,5520621&dq=portman+les-mann&hl=en|newspaper=The Vindicator|date=November 9, 1994}} Thomas R. Chandler,{{cite news|title=Results of Contests For the U.S. House, District by District|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/11/07/us/results-of-contests-for-the-us-house-district-by-district.html|newspaper=The New York Times|date=November 7, 1996}} and then Waynesville mayor Charles W. Sanders four times in a row.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.weeklystandard.com/articles/more-bad-news-democrats|title=More Bad News for Democrats|magazine=The Weekly Standard|date=March 15, 2010|access-date=August 21, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100311212427/http://www.weeklystandard.com/articles/more-bad-news-democrats|archive-date=March 11, 2010|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|last=Kemme|first=Steve|title=Portman vows not to take it easy|url=http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2004/09/19/loc_loc1gportman.html|newspaper=Cincinnati Enquirer|date=September 19, 2004}}

File:Rob Portman testifying before the Senate Budget Committee.jpg in 1998]]

As of 2004, Portman had a lifetime rating of 89 from the American Conservative Union, and ranked 5th among Ohio's 18 House members.{{cite web |url=http://acuratings.conservative.org/acu-federal-legislative-ratings/?year1=2004&chamber=12&state1=48&sortable=6 |title=2004 ACU House ratings |website=Federal Legislative Ratings |publisher=American Conservative Union |language=en}}

One of Portman's first votes in Congress was for the North American Free Trade Agreement on November 17, 1993.{{Cite news|url =http://clerk.house.gov/evs/1993/roll575.xml|title=FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 575|publisher=United States House of Representatives Roll Call Vote|date=November 17, 1993|access-date=June 3, 2012}}

Of Portman's work on the Internal Revenue Service Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998, Pete Sepp of the National Taxpayers Union said, "He set a professional work environment that rose above partisanship and ultimately gave taxpayers more rights." Democratic Representative Stephanie Tubbs Jones from Cleveland said Portman, "compared to other Republicans, is pleasant and good to work with." During the first four years of the George W. Bush Administration, Portman served as a liaison between congressional Republicans and the White House.{{cite web|url=http://blog.cleveland.com/pdextra/2008/04/ready_for_prime_time_president.html|title=Ready for Prime Time President Bush has tapped Ohio's Rob Portman to be the nation's top trade negotiator|date=April 19, 2008|publisher=Blog.cleveland.com|access-date=August 21, 2010}} Portman voted for the Iraq War Resolution in 2002.{{Cite news|url=http://voteview.com/gulfwar.htm|title=The Iraq War Vote|publisher=VoteView.com|date=October 11, 2002|access-date=December 8, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107024756/http://voteview.com/GulfWar.htm|archive-date=November 7, 2012|url-status=dead}} He was known for his willingness to work with Democrats to enact important legislation.

Portman has said that his proudest moments as a U.S. Representative were "when we passed the balanced budget agreement and the welfare reform bill." As a congressman, Portman traveled to Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, the Czech Republic, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait and Mexico. During his time in the House, Portman began assisting prominent Republican candidates prepare for debates by standing in for their opponents in practice debates. He took the role of Lamar Alexander (for Bob Dole in 1996), Al Gore (for George W. Bush in 2000), Hillary Clinton (for Rick Lazio in 2000), Joe Lieberman (for Dick Cheney in 2000), John Edwards (for Cheney in 2004), and Barack Obama (for John McCain in 2008 and Mitt Romney in 2012).{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/04/us/politics/rob-portman-a-master-of-washingtons-inner-workings.html|title=Possible No. 2 to Romney Knows Ways of the Capital|newspaper=The New York Times|date=July 3, 2012|first=Jeff|last=Zeleny}}{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/OTUS/potential-romney-vp-rob-portman-method-actor-debate/story?id=16488358#.UIdBQW_A8jI|title=Potential Romney VP Rob Portman is a method actor of debate prep: 'physical mannerisms, parsing of his voice, everything'|work=ABC News|date=June 4, 2012|first=Chris|last=Moody}} His portrayals mimic not only the person's point of view but also their mannerisms, noting for instance that he listened to Obama's audiobook reading to study his pattern of speech.{{cite news|url=http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/27/portman-to-reprise-obama-role-for-romney-debate-preparation/?partner=rss&emc=rss|title=Portman to Reprise Obama Role for Romney Debate Preparation|first=Jeff|last=Zeleny|newspaper=The New York Times|date=August 27, 2012}}

{{clear}}

{{further|Presidency of George W. Bush}}

On March 17, 2005, Portman spoke at the White House during a ceremony at which Bush nominated him for United States Trade Representative, calling him "a good friend, a decent man, and a skilled negotiator."{{cite news|last=Becker|first=Liz|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D05E7DF113CF93BA25750C0A9639C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all|title=Congressman From Ohio Is Chosen For Trade Post|work=The New York Times|date=March 18, 2005|access-date=August 21, 2010}} Portman was confirmed on April 29{{cite news |title=Resignation from the House of Representatives |url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CREC-2005-05-02/pdf/CREC-2005-05-02-pt1-PgH2741-7.pdf#page=1 |work=Congressional Record |date=May 2, 2005 |pages=H2741–H2742}} and sworn in on May 17.{{cite web|url=https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2005/05/20050517-3.html|title=President Honors Ambassador Portman at Swearing-In Ceremony|last=Office of the White House Press Secretary|date=May 17, 2005|publisher=George W Bush -White House Archives|access-date=February 15, 2011}}{{cite web|url=https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2005/03/20050317-2.html|title=President Nominates Rob Portman as United States Trade Representative|publisher=White House Archives|access-date=February 15, 2011}}{{cite news|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D05E7DF113CF93BA25750C0A9639C8B63|title=Congressman From Ohio Is Chosen For Trade Post|last=Becker|first=Elizabeth|date=March 18, 2005|work=The New York Times|access-date=February 15, 2011}}

Portman sponsored an unfair-trading claim to the World Trade Organization against Airbus because American allies in the European Union were providing subsidies that arguably helped Airbus compete against Boeing. European officials countered that Boeing received unfair subsidies from the United States, and the WTO ruled separately that they each received unfair government assistance.

Portman spent significant time out of the United States negotiating trade agreements with roughly 30 countries, visiting Brazil, Burkina Faso, China, France, Hong Kong, India, Mexico, South Korea, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. During his tenure, he also helped to win passage of the Central American Free Trade Agreement. Portman used a network of former House colleagues to get support for the treaty to lift trade barriers between the United States and Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Guatemala, and Honduras. According to The Hill, Portman took his wife, Jane, with him to the Capitol on their wedding anniversary so he could work on the deal.{{cite news|last=Koff|title=Rob Portman's {{sic|nolink=y|reason=error in source|exeperience}} as trade representative viewed as strength and weakness|first=Stephen|url=http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2012/08/rob_portmans_exeperience_as_tr.html|newspaper=The Cleveland Plain Dealer|date=August 11, 2012|access-date=April 1, 2013}}

Image:President Bush Nominates Rob Portman as OMB Director and Susan Schwab for USTR.jpg nominated for USTR, 2006]]

{{see also|World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference of 2005}}

As United States Trade Representative, Portman attended the WTO's Hong Kong conference in 2005. He addressed the conference with a speech on development in Doha, and advocated a 60% cut in targeted worldwide agricultural subsidies by 2010.Maidment, Paul. [https://www.forbes.com/2005/10/11/wto-farming-subsidies-cx_pm_1011wto.html Rob Portman, Take A Bow.] Forbes. October 11, 2005.{{cite web|url=http://www.policyarchive.org/handle/10207/bitstreams/2619.pdf|title=WTO Doha Round: Agricultural Negotiating Proposals|work=CRS Report for Congress|number=RL33144}} Portman then sponsored a claim against China for extra charges it levied on American auto parts. U.S. steel manufacturers subsequently beseeched the White House to halt an influx of Chinese steel pipe used to make plumbing and fence materials. This was a recurring complaint and the United States International Trade Commission recommended imposing import quotas, noting "the economic threat to the domestic pipe industry from the Chinese surge." With Portman as his top trade advisor, Bush replied that quotas were in the U.S. economic interest. He reasoned the American homebuilding industry used the pipe and wanted to maintain a cheap supply and that other cheap exporters would step in to fill China's void if Chinese exports were curtailed. This occurred at a time when the U.S. steel industry lost $150 million in profit between 2005 and 2007, although China's minister of commerce cited the U.S. industry's "record high profit margins" in the first half of 2004 and continued growth in 2005. China next lobbied Portman to leave matters alone, meeting with his office twice and threatening in a letter that restrictions and what it called "discrimination against Chinese products" would bring "serious adverse impact" to the U.S.-China economic and trade relationship.{{cite news|last=Koff|title=Rob Portman's {{sic|nolink=y|reason=error in source|exeperience}} as trade representative viewed as strength and weakness|first=Stephen|url=http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2012/08/rob_portmans_exeperience_as_tr.html|newspaper=The Cleveland Plain Dealer|date=August 11, 2012|access-date=April 2, 2013}} Portman vowed to "hold [China's] feet to the fire" and provide a "top-to-bottom review" of the U.S.–China trade relationship.{{cite news|newspaper=Cincinnati Enquirer|date=June 22, 2012|url=http://news.cincinnati.com/article/AB/20120624/NEWS010607/306250011/Portman-s-time-Bush-White-House-double-edged-sword|title=Portman's time in Bush White House a double-edged sword|access-date=October 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819112243/http://www.cincinnati.com/article/AB/20120624/NEWS010607/306250011/Portman-s-time-Bush-White-House-double-edged-sword|archive-date=August 19, 2014}} His claim that China had improperly favored domestic auto parts became the first successful trade suit against China in the WTO. During Portman's tenure as trade ambassador, the U.S. trade deficit with China increased by 21 percent.

{{See also|Office of Management and Budget}}

Image:Rob Portman official photo.jpg

On April 18, 2006, Bush nominated Portman for Director of the Office of Management and Budget, replacing Joshua Bolten, who was appointed White House Chief of Staff.{{cite news|newspaper=The Financial Express|date=April 19, 2006|url=http://www.financialexpress.com/news/bush-taps-portman-to-head-omb-susan-schwab-as-trade-chief/162733/|title=Bush taps Portman to head OMB, Susan Schwab as trade chief|access-date=September 27, 2012}} Portman said that he looked forward to the responsibility, adding, "It's a big job. The Office of Management and Budget touches every spending and policy decision in the federal government". Bush expressed his confidence in Portman, saying, "The job of OMB director is a really important post and Rob Portman is the right man to take it on. Rob's talent, expertise and record of success are well known within my administration and on Capitol Hill."{{cite news|newspaper=FoxNews.com|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,192097,00.html|title=Bush Taps Portman as OMB Chief, Says Rumsfeld Should Stay Portman|date=April 18, 2006|access-date=September 27, 2012}} The U.S. Senate confirmed him unanimously by voice vote on May 26, 2006.{{cite news|newspaper=Sun Journal|date=May 27, 2006|title= Budget Director Confirmed|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PUguAAAAIBAJ&pg=2526,4804958&dq=rob+portman+confirmed&hl=en}}{{cite news|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|title=Panel clears Portman for budget post|url=http://articles.marketwatch.com/2006-05-23/news/30744422_1_portman-confirmation-budget-director|date=May 23, 2006|access-date=September 27, 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130128150259/http://articles.marketwatch.com/2006-05-23/news/30744422_1_portman-confirmation-budget-director|archive-date=January 28, 2013|url-status=dead}}

As OMB director from May 2006 to August 2007, Portman helped craft a $2.9 trillion budget for fiscal year 2008. The Cincinnati Enquirer wrote, "The plan called for making the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts permanent, at a cost of more than $500 billion over the five-year life of the proposal. It requested a hefty increase in military spending, along with reductions in low-income housing assistance, environmental initiatives, and health care safety-net programs."{{cite web|publisher=The White House|url= https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2007/02/20070205-3.html|title=Press Briefing by OMB Director Rob Portman on the President's Fiscal Year 2008 Budget|date=February 5, 2007 |access-date=October 11, 2012}} Portman is said to have been "frustrated" with the post, calling the budget that Bush's office sent to Congress "not my budget, his budget," and saying, "it was a fight, internally." Edward Lazear of Bush's Council of Economic Advisers said that Portman was the leading advocate for a balanced budget, while other former Bush administration officials said that Portman was the leading advocate for fiscal discipline within the administration.{{cite news|newspaper=The Hill|date=August 2, 2012|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/121561-possible-vp-pick-rob-portman-was-frustrated-at-bush-budget-office/|title=Possible VP pick Rob Portman was 'frustrated' at Bush budget office|access-date=October 11, 2012}}

On June 19, 2007, Portman resigned as OMB director, citing a desire to spend more time with his family and three children.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/19/AR2007061900777.html|title=Bush Names Ex-Rep. Nussle Budget Chief|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=June 20, 2007|access-date=August 21, 2010}} Democratic Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee Kent Conrad expressed regret at Portman's resignation, saying, "He is a person of credibility and decency that commanded respect on both sides of the aisle."{{cite news|date=June 19, 2007|newspaper=Forbes|url=https://www.forbes.com/2007/06/19/bush-portman-nussle-biz-beltway_cx_bw_0619portman.html|title=Portman Departs White House Post|access-date=September 27, 2012|first=Brian|last=Wingfield}}

On November 8, 2007, Portman joined the law firm Squire Sanders as part of its transactional and international trade practice in Cincinnati, Ohio. His longtime chief of staff, Rob Lehman, also joined the firm as a lobbyist in its Washington, D.C. office.{{cite press release|date=November 8, 2007|via=PR Newswire|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rob-portman-to-join-squire-sanders--dempsey-llp-58806362.html|title=Rob Portman to Join Squire, Sanders & Dempsey L.L.P.|publisher=Squire, Sanders & Dempsey L.L.P.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130501161123/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rob-portman-to-join-squire-sanders--dempsey-llp-58806362.html|archive-date=May 1, 2013}}{{cite news|date=October 31, 2011|newspaper=LegiStorm|url=http://www.legistorm.com/blog/portman-s-top-adviser-took-a-hefty-pay-cut-through-the-revolving-door.html|title=Portman's top adviser took a hefty pay cut through the revolving door|access-date=October 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120102070207/http://www.legistorm.com/blog/portman-s-top-adviser-took-a-hefty-pay-cut-through-the-revolving-door.html|archive-date=January 2, 2012|url-status=dead}} In 2007, Portman founded Ohio's Future P.A.C., a political action committee.{{cite news|work=Columbus Dispatch|first=Jonathan|last=Riskind|url=http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/national_world/2008/04/10/portpac.ART_ART_04-10-08_A5_969SU8R.html|title=Weighing 2010 contest, Portman names former aide to run PAC|date=April 10, 2008|access-date=July 13, 2012}}[http://ohiosfuture.com/blog.htm "Discuss Ohio's Future with Rob Portman on his blog"], OhiosFuture.com, undated In 2008, he was cited as a potential running mate for Republican presidential nominee John McCain.{{cite web|url=http://townhall.com/Columnists/RobertNovak/2008/03/28/portman_for_vp|title=Portman for VP|last=Novak|first=Robert|date=March 28, 2008|publisher=Townhall.com|access-date=February 15, 2011}}{{cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/barack-obama-and-john-mccain-begin-the-search-for-running-mates|title=Barack Obama and John McCain Begin the Search for Running Mates|date=May 27, 2008|publisher=Fox News|access-date=February 15, 2011}}{{cite web|url=http://blog.cleveland.com/openers/2008/04/rob_portman_1.html|title=Rob Portman: GOP vice presidential candidate?|last=Auster|first=Elizabeth|date=April 18, 2008|publisher=Cleveland.com|access-date=February 15, 2011}} Portman remained critical of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, passed while he was out of office.{{cite news|url=http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/portman-blasts-stimulus-touts-tax-cuts/1d0pt7slp?cpkey=3e00b92a-50a8-4ece-ac59-db23df4c91c6%257c%257c%257c%257c|title=Portman Blasts Stimulus, Touts Tax Cuts|publisher=Bing Videos|date=October 13, 2010|access-date=December 8, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130511085227/http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/portman-blasts-stimulus-touts-tax-cuts/1d0pt7slp?cpkey=3e00b92a-50a8-4ece-ac59-db23df4c91c6%257c%257c%257c%257c|archive-date=May 11, 2013|url-status=dead}}

Image:Ohio US Senate Election Results by County, 2010.svg that Portman received pluralities within (shown in red) during the 2010 U.S. Senate election]]

Image:Ohio US Senate Election Results by County, 2016.svg that Portman received pluralities within (shown in red) during the 2016 U.S. Senate election]]

{{See also|2010 United States Senate election in Ohio}}

On January 14, 2009, two days after George Voinovich announced he would not be running for re-election, Portman publicly declared his candidacy for the open U.S. Senate seat.{{cite news |last1=Rulon |first1=Malia |last2=Whitaker |first2=Carrie |title=Portman makes it official |url=http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090114/NEWS0108/901140316/1055/NEWS |work=The Cincinnati Enquirer |date=January 14, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111065327/http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090114/NEWS0108/901140316/1055/NEWS |archive-date=January 11, 2012}}{{cite web|last=Hallett|title=Portman enters Senate race | Columbus Dispatch Politics|first=Joe|url=http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/01/14/copy/portman.html?sid=101|publisher=Dispatchpolitics.com|date=January 14, 2009|access-date=August 21, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101124131024/http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/01/14/copy/portman.html?sid=101|archive-date=November 24, 2010}} Running unopposed in the Republican primary, Portman benefitted substantially from Tea Party support, and by July 2010 had raised more campaign funds than Democrat Lee Fisher by a 9 to 1 margin.{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalreview.com/campaign-spot/230830/could-rob-portman-have-9-1-cash-advantage-ohios-senate-race|title=Could Rob Portman Have a 9-to-1 Cash Advantage in Ohio's Senate Race?|last=Geraghty|first=Jim|date=August 17, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120720115633/http://www.nationalreview.com/campaign-spot/230830/could-rob-portman-have-9-1-cash-advantage-ohios-senate-race|archive-date=July 20, 2012|work=National Review}} Portman campaigned on the issue of jobs and job growth.{{cite news|url=http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/10_45/b4202029083519.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101101225543/http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/10_45/b4202029083519.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 1, 2010|title=Rob Portman's Business Ties Don't Bother Ohio|publisher=BloombergBusinessweek|date=October 28, 2010|access-date=November 24, 2012}}

Of all candidates for public office in the US, Portman was the top recipient of corporate money from insurance industries and commercial banks in 2010.{{cite news|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjGdIhSWI7U| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211118/hjGdIhSWI7U| archive-date=November 18, 2021 | url-status=live|title=Rachel Maddow examines Dan Coates & Rob Portman's 'Tea Party' cred|publisher=MSNBC|date=November 3, 2010|access-date=November 24, 2012}}{{cbignore}} Portman possessed the most campaign funds of any Republican during 2010, at $5.1 million, raising $1.3 million in his third quarter of fundraising.Kraushaar, Josh. [https://www.politico.com/news/stories/1009/28395.html Cha-ching! Campaign cash tops and flops], Politico, October 16, 2009

Portman won the election by a margin of 57 to 39 percent, winning 82 of Ohio's 88 counties.{{cite web|url=https://portman.senate.gov/about.cfm|title=Senator Portman, U.S. Senator from Ohio – Official Page|publisher=portman.senate.gov|access-date=February 15, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110203092714/http://portman.senate.gov/about.cfm|archive-date=February 3, 2011|url-status=dead}} In a 2010 campaign advertisement, Portman said a "[ cap-and-trade bill] could cost Ohio 100,000 jobs we cannot afford to lose;" subsequently, The Cleveland Plain Dealer and PolitiFact called Portman's claim "barely true" with the most pessimistic estimates.{{cite news|url=http://www.politifact.com/ohio/statements/2010/aug/02/rob-portman/portman-uses-outdated-context-claim-cap-and-trade-/|title=Portman uses outdated context to claim cap-and-trade could cost 100,000 Ohio jobs|newspaper=The Cleveland Plain Dealer|date=July 6, 2010|access-date=April 2, 2013}}

{{See also|2016 United States Senate election in Ohio}}

The 2016 re-election campaign posed several special challenges to Portman and his team—it would be run in heavily targeted Ohio, it would occur in a presidential year when Democratic turnout was expected to peak, and both parties would bombard Ohio voters with tens of millions of dollars in TV, cable and digital ads for the national, senatorial and downticket contests. For his campaign manager, Portman chose Corry Bliss, who had just run the successful re-election of Sen. Pat Roberts in Kansas. Portman and Bliss chose to run what Time magazine called "a hyperlocal campaign without betting on the nominee's coattails."Elliott, Philip and Newton-Small, Jay, Time, April 13, 2016, "Why Republicans Are Looking Farther Down the Ballot," accessed thru {{cite web| url = https://time.com/4292904/downballot-republicans-senate-house/| title = 2016 Elections: Republicans Look Down Ballot| date = April 14, 2016}}

As Real Clear Politics noted, Portman faced "the thorny challenge of keeping distance from Trump in a state Trump [was] poised to win. Portman, in the year of the outsider, [was] even more of an insider than Clinton ... Yet he [ran] a local campaign focused on issues like human trafficking and opioid addiction, and secured the endorsement of the Teamsters as well as other unions" (despite being a mostly conservative Republican).Real Clear Politics, November 6, 2016, "Things we know at a moment of uncertainty," accessed thru {{cite web| url = http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2016/11/06/things_we_know_at_a_moment_of_uncertainty_132265.html| title = Things We Know at a Moment of Uncertainty {{!}} RealClearPolitics}}

Polls showed the race even (or Portman slightly behind) as of June 2016; afterwards, Portman led Democratic ex-Gov. Ted Strickland in every public survey through Election Day. The final result was 58.0% to 37.2%, nearly a 21-point margin for Portman.

Chris Cillizza of The Washington Post argued that the context of Ohio's result had wider implications. "There are a lot of reasons Republicans held the Senate this fall. But Portman's candidacy in Ohio is the most important one. Portman took a seemingly competitive race in a swing state and put it out of reach by Labor Day, allowing money that was ticketed for his state to be in other races, such as North Carolina and Missouri ..."{{cite news |last1=Cillizza |first1=Chris |author-link1=Chris Cillizza |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=December 21, 2016 |title=The best candidate of 2016 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/12/21/the-best-candidate-of-2016/ |language=en}}

The Washington Post said "Portman took the crown for best campaign", while Real Clear Politics said, "Sen. Rob Portman ran the campaign of the year.".Real Clear Politics, {{cite web| url = http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2016/11/06/things_we_know_at_a_moment_of_uncertainty_132265.html| title = Things We Know at a Moment of Uncertainty {{!}} RealClearPolitics}} Portman himself was generous in praising his campaign manager: "With an emphasis on utilizing data, grassroots, and technology, Corry led our campaign from behind in the polls to a 21-point victory. He's one of the best strategists in the country."Altimari, Daniela, Hartford Courant, December 21, 2016, "Bliss a Big Winner of 2016 Cycle," accessed thru {{cite web| url = http://www.courant.com/politics/capitol-watch/hc-bliss-a-big-winner-of-2016-cycle-20161221-story.html| title = Bliss a Big Winner of 2016 Cycle - Hartford Courant| date = December 21, 2016}}

File:Rob Portman, official portrait, 112th Congress.jpg]]

Image:Neil Armstrong family memorial service (201208310013HQ).jpg, 2012.]]

In the 112th Congress, Portman voted with his party 90% of the time.{{cite news|url=http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/P000449|title=Rob Portman (R)|access-date=August 8, 2012|publisher=The Washington Post|work=The U.S. Congress Votes Database}} However, in the 114th United States Congress, Portman was ranked as the third most bipartisan member of the U.S. Senate by the Bipartisan Index, a metric created jointly by The Lugar Center and the McCourt School of Public Policy to reflect congressional bipartisanship.{{Citation|url=http://www.thelugarcenter.org/assets/htmldocuments/The%20Lugar%20Center%20-%20McCourt%20School%20Bipartisan%20Index%20114th%20Congress%20House%20Scores.pdf|title=The Lugar Center - McCourt School Bipartisan Index|publisher=The Lugar Center|date=March 7, 2016|access-date=April 30, 2017}} During the first session of the 115th Congress, Portman's bipartisanship score improved further, propelling him to second in the Senate rankings (only Senator Susan Collins scoring higher),{{cite news|url=http://www.thelugarcenter.org/assets/htmldocuments/Senate%20Scores%20115th%20Congress%20First%20Session.pdf|publisher=The Lugar Center|title=The Lugar Center - McCourt School Bipartisan Index|date=April 24, 2018|access-date=July 2, 2018|location=Washington, D.C.}}{{Citation|url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2018/04/25/who-most-bipartisan-congress-ohio-sen-rob-portman-near-top-report-shows/549837002/|title=Who is the most bipartisan in Congress? Ohio Sen. Rob Portman near the top, report shows|publisher=Cincinnati.com|date=April 25, 2018|access-date=July 2, 2018|location=Cincinnati, Ohio}} Portman's intellectual leadership among the Senate G.O.P., and his fundraising capabilities,

{{cite news|url=http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/politics/elections/2015/05/23/portman-popular-big-donors-shows/27798783/|title=Do you have Rob Portman's cell? These donors do.|newspaper= The Cincinnati Enquirer|date=May 26, 2015|access-date=June 30, 2015}} led to his being named the Vice Chairman for Finance of the National Republican Senatorial Committee for the 2014 election cycle.

{{cite news|url=http://www.nrsc.org/About|title=National Republican Senatorial Committee Leadership|publisher=NRSC|date=March 2014|access-date=March 22, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140322224909/http://www.nrsc.org/About|archive-date=March 22, 2014|url-status=dead}}

In March 2013, Portman was one of several Republican senators invited to have dinner with President Obama at The Jefferson Hotel in an attempt by the administration to court perceived moderate members of the upper chamber for building consensual motivation in Congress; however, Portman did not attend and instead had dinner with an unnamed Democratic senator.{{cite news|url=http://cincinnati.com/blogs/politics/2013/03/07/portman-missed-obama-dinner-met-with-dem-senator-instead/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130410171105/http://cincinnati.com/blogs/politics/2013/03/07/portman-missed-obama-dinner-met-with-dem-senator-instead/|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 10, 2013|title=Portman missed Obama dinner, met with Dem senator instead|newspaper=The Cincinnati Enquirer|date=March 7, 2013|access-date=April 2, 2013}}

Portman delivered the eulogy at the August 2012 funeral of Neil Armstrong,[http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2012/08/sen_rob_portman_to_deliver_eul.html "Sen. Portman to deliver eulogy at Neil Armstrong funeral."] www.cleveland.com, August 2012. Retrieved September 19, 2012. and the commencement address at the University of Cincinnati's December 2012 graduation ceremony.{{cite news|url=http://www.uc.edu/news/NR.aspx?id=17026|title= December Commencement Ceremony at the University of Cincinnati|publisher=University of Cincinnati|date=December 15, 2012|access-date=April 2, 2013}}

In August 2011, Portman was selected by Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to participate in the United States Congress Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction.{{cite web|last=Ifill|first=Gwen|url=http://www.nationaljournal.com/congress/sens-toomey-portman-named-to-super-committee-20110810|title=Sens. Toomey, Portman Named to Super Committee|work=NationalJournal.com|date=August 10, 2011|access-date=April 10, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406062407/http://www.nationaljournal.com/congress/sens-toomey-portman-named-to-super-committee-20110810|archive-date=April 6, 2012|url-status=dead}} During the committee's work, Portman developed strong relationships with the other members, especially Sen. John Kerry and Rep. Chris Van Hollen.{{cite news |url= http://bigstory.ap.org/article/spotlight-ohios-low-profile-portman |title=Spotlight is on Ohio's Low-Profile Portman |agency=Associated Press |date=June 21, 2012 |access-date=December 15, 2012}} The committee was ultimately unsuccessful, with Portman left disappointed, saying "I am very sad about this process not succeeding because it was a unique opportunity to both address the fiscal crisis and give the economy a shot in the arm."{{cite news|last=Torry|first=Jack|url=http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/editorials/2011/11/27/golden-opportunity-wasted-when-supercommittee-failed.html|title=Golden Opportunity Wasted When Supercommittee Failed|newspaper=Columbus Dispatch|date=November 27, 2011|access-date=May 8, 2012}}

Portman spoke at the May 7, 2011 Michigan Law School commencement ceremonies, which was the subject of criticism by some who opposed his stance on same-sex marriage.{{cite news|last=Troy|first=Tom|url=http://www.toledoblade.com/Education/2011/04/21/Portman-pick-draws-fire-at-UM-law-school.html|title=Portman pick draws fire at UM law school|newspaper=The Toledo Blade|date=April 21, 2011|access-date=July 19, 2012}} He and his wife walked in the 50th anniversary march over the Edmund Pettus Bridge commemorating Bloody Sunday and the March on Selma.{{Cite news|url=https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=8a31e69f-4f73-4f07-8a04-8bddea5dac60|title=Portman Statement on Attending the Selma 50th Anniversary

|publisher=portman.senate.gov|date=March 7, 2015|access-date=October 19, 2016}}

On January 25, 2021, Portman announced that he would not run for a third term in 2022.{{cite news|url = https://www.politico.com/news/2021/01/25/rob-portman-wont-seek-reelection-462146|title = Rob Portman won't seek reelection|last = Everett|first = Burgess|date = January 25, 2021|access-date = January 25, 2021|work= Politico}} In a statement, he said he looked forward to "focus[ing] all my energy on legislation and the challenges our country faces rather than on fundraising and campaigning." He added, "I have consistently been named one of the most bipartisan senators. I am proud of that and I will continue to reach out to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to find common ground. Eighty-two of my bills were signed into law by President Trump, and 68 were signed into law by President Obama." Of why he chose not to seek another term, he said, "I don't think any Senate office has been more successful in getting things done, but honestly, it has gotten harder and harder to break through the partisan gridlock and make progress on substantive policy, and that has contributed to my decision."{{Cite web|last=Kadar|first=Dan|title=Rob Portman: Read Ohio Senator's statement on why he's not running again|url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2021/01/25/rob-portman-statement-reelection-2022/6699962002/|access-date=January 29, 2021|website=The Enquirer|language=en-US}}

Committee assignments{{Cite web|url=https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/committee-assignments|title=Committee Assignments - About Rob - Rob Portman|website=www.portman.senate.gov|language=en|access-date=June 12, 2017|archive-date=June 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170610172922/https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/committee-assignments|url-status=dead}}

• United States Senate Committee on Finance{{Cite web|url=https://www.finance.senate.gov/about/membership|title=Membership {{!}} The United States Senate Committee on Finance|website=www.finance.senate.gov|language=en|access-date=August 1, 2018}}
• Subcommittee on Health Care
• Subcommittee on Taxation and IRS Oversight (Ranking Member)
• Subcommittee on Social Security, Pensions, and Family Policy
• United States Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources{{Cite web|url=https://www.energy.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/subcommittees|title=Subcommittees - U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources|website=www.energy.senate.gov|language=en|access-date=June 12, 2017}}
• Subcommittee on Energy
• Subcommittee on National Parks
• Subcommittee on Water and Power
• United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs{{Cite web|url=https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/about|title=About the Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs {{!}} Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee|website=www.hsgac.senate.gov|language=en|access-date=August 1, 2018}}
• Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (Ranking Member)
• Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management
• United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations{{Cite web|url=https://www.foreign.senate.gov/about/membership|title=Committee Membership {{!}} United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations|website=www.foreign.senate.gov|language=en|access-date=August 1, 2018}}
• Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation
• Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia, and Counter-Terrorism
• Subcommittee on State Department and USAID Management, International Operations, and Bilateral International Development
• Subcommittee on Multilateral Development, Multilateral Institutions, and International Economic, Energy, and Monetary Policy

Caucus memberships

Portman belonged to the following caucuses in the United States Senate:

• Congressional Serbian American Caucus{{cite web|url=https://portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2011/6/portman-joins-congressional-serbian-american-caucus|archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20110708041936/http://portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2011/6/portman-joins-congressional-serbian-american-caucus|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 8, 2011|title=Portman Joins Congressional Serbian American Caucus|date=June 7, 2012|work=Press Release|publisher=Senator Rob Portman|access-date=July 8, 2012}}
• International Conservation Caucus (Co-chair){{cite web|url=http://iccfoundation.us/download.php?file=ICC%20Senate%20Membership%20List.pdf|title=U.S. Senate ICC member list|date=June 28, 2012|work=U.S. Congressional ICC|publisher=International Conservation Caucus Foundation|access-date=July 8, 2012|archive-date=March 25, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325174016/http://iccfoundation.us/download.php?file=ICC%20Senate%20Membership%20List.pdf|url-status=dead}}
• Sportsmen's Caucus{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsmenslink.org/Sportsmens-Caucus/CongressionalSportsmen%27sCaucus|title=Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus|publisher=Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation|access-date=July 8, 2012}}

• Senate Ukraine Caucus (Co-chair){{cite news|title=Portman and Durbin Launch Senate Ukraine Caucus|url=https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2015/2/portman-and-durbin-launch-senate-ukraine-caucus|publisher=Rob Portman United States Senator for Ohio|access-date=February 11, 2015|date=February 9, 2015|archive-date=February 11, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150211073945/http://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2015/2/portman-and-durbin-launch-senate-ukraine-caucus|url-status=dead}}
• Senate Artificial Intelligence Caucus (Co-chair){{cite news|title=New Session Sparks New Priorities for Senate AI Caucus |url=https://www.nextgov.com/emerging-tech/2021/01/new-session-sparks-new-priorities-senate-ai-caucus/171557/|publisher=NextGov|access-date=July 22, 2021|date=January 21, 2021}}

File:President Trump and Mrs. Trump Arrive in Ohio (48482687627).jpg in 2019]]

According to the Encyclopædia Britannica, while in the Senate, Portman portrayed himself as a "deficit hawk" and was "considered a centrist-to-conservative Republican" who has typically voted with the party leadership, although he broke with it on a number of issues, including same-sex marriage.{{cite encyclopedia|title=Rob Portman|date=December 15, 2020|author=Gregory Lewis McNamee|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Rob-Portman|encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica}} In 2013, Portman was several times described as staunchly conservative.{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2013/03/15/politics/portman-gay-marriage/index.html|title=One conservative's dramatic reversal on gay marriage|author=Dana Bash|date=March 15, 2013|publisher=CNN|quote=[Portman has] been a leading Republican voice on economic issues for four decades...the prominent Ohio conservative...Though he is a staunch conservative, Portman}}{{cite news|author=Richard Socarides|title=Rob Portman and His Brave, Gay Son|magazine=New Yorker|url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/rob-portman-and-his-brave-gay-son|date=March 15, 2013|quote=Portman is not only a staunch conservative but also an important member of the Republican Party establishment}} During the Trump administration, Portman was characterized as a centrist or moderate Republican.{{cite news |last1=Zanona |first1=Melanie |title='It wasn't wise': Republicans urge Trump to restart Covid talks |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/10/07/republicans-trump-covid-talks-427450 |access-date=December 29, 2020 |work=Politico|date=October 7, 2020 |language=en}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.rollcall.com/news/senate-moderates-say-getting-closer-health-overhaul|title=Senate Moderates Say They Are Closer on Health Care|last1=Siddons|first1=Andrew|date=June 9, 2017|website=Roll Call|language=en|access-date=July 23, 2018|archive-date=September 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180930033704/https://www.rollcall.com/news/senate-moderates-say-getting-closer-health-overhaul|url-status=dead}}{{Cite news|url=https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/332460-what-moderate-gop-senators-want-in-obamacare-repeal/|title=What moderate GOP senators want in ObamaCare repeal|last=Weaver|first=Dustin|date=May 8, 2017|work=The Hill|access-date=July 23, 2018|language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Gomez |first1=Henry |title=Ohio Democrats Want To Make Their Republican Senator The Next Susan Collins |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/henrygomez/ohio-rob-portman-amy-coney-barrett-senate-2022 |access-date=December 29, 2020 |work=BuzzFeed News |date=October 26, 2020 |language=en}} In 2020, Portman's former campaign manager described him as a "proud conservative". Chris Cillizza, writing in 2014, described Portman as more governance-oriented than campaign-oriented.{{cite news |last1=Cillizza |first1=Chris |title=Rob Portman would probably be a good president. He'd never get elected though. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2014/12/02/rob-portman-would-probably-be-a-good-president-hed-never-get-elected-though/ |access-date=December 29, 2020 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=December 2, 2014}}

GovTrack places Portman toward the center of the Senate's ideological spectrum; according to GovTrack's analysis, Portman is the third most moderate Republican in 2017 being to the right of Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski but to the left of his other Republican colleagues.{{Cite web|url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/robert_portman/400325|title=Robert "Rob" Portman, Senator for Ohio - GovTrack.us|website=GovTrack.us|language=en|access-date=July 23, 2018}} The American Conservative Union gives Portman a lifetime 79% conservative grade.{{Cite web|url=https://votesmart.org/candidate/evaluations/27008/rob-portman#.W1VYdNhKjMI|title=Rob Portman's Ratings and Endorsements|website=votesmart.org}} The progressive Americans for Democratic Action gave Portman a 25% liberal quotient in 2014. The non-partisan National Journal gave Portman a 2013 composite ideology score of 71% conservative and 29% liberal.

According to FiveThirtyEight, which tracks congressional records, Portman voted in line with Trump's position on legislation 90.4% of the time.{{Cite news|url=https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/congress-trump-score/rob-portman/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170625215022/https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/congress-trump-score/rob-portman/|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 25, 2017|title=Tracking Congress In The Age Of Trump|last=Bycoffe|first=Aaron|work=FiveThirtyEight|publisher=New York Times Company|location=New York City|access-date=December 29, 2020}} As of October 2022, he had voted with Biden's positions about 61.8% of the time.{{Cite web|last=Bycoffe|first=Anna Wiederkehr and Aaron|date=April 22, 2021|title=Does Your Member Of Congress Vote With Or Against Biden?|url=https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/biden-congress-votes/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422123731/https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/biden-congress-votes/|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 22, 2021|access-date=June 17, 2021|website=FiveThirtyEight|language=en}} CQ RollCall, which also tracks voting records, found that Portman voted with President Obama's positions on legislation 59.5% of the time in 2011.{{Cite news|url=http://www.politifact.com/ohio/statements/2012/jan/25/ohio-republican-party/ohio-republicans-say-sherrod-brown-has-voted-obama/|title=Ohio Republicans say Sherrod Brown has voted with Obama 95 percent of the time|work=PolitiFact|access-date=July 23, 2018|language=en}} He was one of five Senate Republicans who voted with Obama's position more than half the time.{{Cite news|url=https://www.rollcall.com/news/collins-murkowski-most-likely-republicans-to-back-obama|title=Collins, Murkowski Most Likely Republicans to Back Obama|last1=Lesniewski|first1=Niels|date=February 4, 2014|work=Roll Call|access-date=July 23, 2018|last2=Lesniewski|first2=Niels|language=en}}

{{see also|2012 United States presidential election}}

Portman was considered a possible pick for vice president on the Republican presidential ticket in 2012.Larison, Daniel (February 2, 2012) [https://archive.today/20130203161932/http://www.theamericanconservative.com/larison/2012/02/02/portman-is-the-most-likely-selection-for-vp/ Portman Is The Most Likely Selection for VP], The American Conservative{{cite news |last1=Memmott |first1=Mark |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2012/08/07/158320294/one-clue-to-romneys-veep-pick-whose-wiki-page-is-getting-the-most-edits |title=One Clue To Romney's Veep Pick: Whose Wiki Page Is Getting The Most Edits? |work=NPR|date=August 7, 2012 |language=en}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2012/04/why-rob-portman-will-be-romneys-vice-presidential-nominee/255515/|title=Why Rob Portman Will Be Romney's Vice Presidential Nominee|work=The Atlantic|date=April 5, 2012|access-date=December 27, 2012}} Chris Cillizza wrote that Portman's time in both the executive and legislative branches would qualify him for the role.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/the-case-for-rob-portman-to-be-vice-president/2012/07/31/gJQAwM52MX_blog.html|title=The Case for Rob Portman to be vice president|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=July 17, 2012|access-date=December 27, 2012|author=Chris Cillizza}}

After Mitt Romney selected Paul Ryan as his running mate, Portman spoke at the 2012 Republican National Convention about trade and his family business.[https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/29/rob-portman-speech-at-201_n_1841585.html "Rob Portman Speech At 2012 Republican National Convention Takes Aim At Obama."] The Huffington Post. August 28, 2012. Retrieved September 2, 2012. On trade agreements, Portman stated: "President Obama is the first president in 75 years-Democrat or Republican-who hasn't even sought the ability to negotiate export agreements and open markets overseas. Now why is this important? Because 95 percent of the world's consumers live outside our borders. And to create jobs, our workers and our farmers need to sell more of what we make to those people." In October 2012, Romney spoke at and toured Portman's Golden Lamb Inn.{{cite news|url=https://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/mitt-romney-visits-rob-portman-haunted-hotel-235620857--election.html|title=Mitt Romney visits Rob Portman's 'haunted hotel'|publisher=Yahoo! News|date=October 13, 2012|access-date=December 8, 2012}}

Portman portrayed President Obama in Romney's mock debate sessions for the general election, reprising a role that he played in the debate preparations of Republican presidential nominee John McCain in 2008.{{cite web |url=https://www.cnn.com/2012/10/03/politics/portman-romney-prep/index.html |title=Romney's sparring partner offers glimpse into GOP debate prep |author=Dana Bash |work=CNN|date=October 3, 2012 |access-date=January 11, 2020}}

{{See also|2016 Republican Party presidential primaries}}

In March 2014, Larry Sabato of the University of Virginia Center for Politics speculated that Portman might run for president in 2016.{{cite news|url=http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/articles/portman-for-president/|title=Portman For President?|publisher=Sabato's Crystal Ball|date=March 6, 2014|access-date=April 12, 2014}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/03/republicans-need-a-champion-in-2016-104177_Page2.html#.U0m269vwCIA|title=Republicans Need a Champion in 2016|magazine=Politico Magazine|date=March 3, 2014|access-date=April 12, 2014|archive-date=April 13, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413132836/http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/03/republicans-need-a-champion-in-2016-104177_Page2.html#.U0m269vwCIA|url-status=dead}} In October 2014, students from the College of William and Mary formed the Draft Rob Portman PAC to encourage Portman to run for president in 2016.{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2014-11-16/a-couple-of-frat-guys-are-behind-draft-rob-portman|title=A Couple of Frat Guys are Behind 'Draft Rob Portman'|access-date=November 16, 2014|publisher=Bloomberg|date=November 16, 2014}} However, Portman announced in December 2014 that he would not run for president and would instead seek a second term in the United States Senate.{{cite magazine|last1=Hagen|first1=Lisa|last2=Railey|first2=Kimberly|title=The Congressional Tease Caucus: 9 Members Who Think (but Never Act) on Running for Higher Office|url=http://www.nationaljournal.com/politics/the-congressional-tease-caucus-9-members-who-think-but-never-act-on-running-for-higher-office-20150118|access-date=January 20, 2015|magazine=National Journal|date=January 18, 2015}}

Portman initially endorsed his fellow Ohioan, Governor John Kasich, during the Republican primaries.{{cite web |url=https://www.politico.com/rob-portman-endorse-john-kasich |title=Rob Portman endorses John Kasich |work=Politico|first=Alex|last=Isenstadt |date=January 9, 2016 |access-date=January 11, 2020}} In May 2016, after Kasich dropped out of the race and Trump became the presumptive Republican nominee, Portman endorsed Trump.{{cite web |url=https://abc6onyourside.com/news/local/rob-portman-endorses-donald-trump |title=Rob Portman endorses Donald Trump |first=Ben|last=Garbarek |date=May 9, 2016 |access-date=January 11, 2020 |work=ABC 6 On Your Side}} After the emergence of old audio recordings where Trump bragged about inappropriately touching women without their consent in October 2016, Portman announced that he was rescinding his endorsement of Trump and would instead cast a write-in vote for Trump's running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence.{{cite web |url=https://www.cleveland.com/open/2016/10/rob_portman_rescinds_endorseme.html |title=Rob Portman rescinds endorsement of Donald Trump |date=October 9, 2016 |first=Andrew J.|last=Tobias |work=Cleveland.com |access-date=January 11, 2020}}

In the 2020 presidential election, Portman supported Trump, in a reversal of his 2016 vote.{{cite web|first=Jessie|last=Balmert|url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/politics/elections/2019/01/31/ohio-sen-rob-portman-back-president-trump-2020/2732371002/|title=Ohio Sen. Rob Portman supports President Trump's 2020 bid - a reversal from 2016 vote|work=Cincinnati Enquirer|date=January 31, 2019|access-date=May 6, 2022}} Portman maintained his support for Trump during the impeachment proceedings against Trump for his conduct in the Trump–Ukraine scandal.{{cite web|first=Sabrina|last=Eaton|url=https://www.cleveland.com/open/2019/10/sen-rob-portman-still-plans-to-vote-for-president-donald-trump-despite-impeachment-inquiry.html|title=Sen. Rob Portman still plans to vote for President Donald Trump despite impeachment inquiry|work=Cleveland.com|date=October 29, 2019|access-date=May 6, 2022}} Portman said that it was "wrong and inappropriate" for Trump to ask a foreign government to investigate a political rival,Darrel Rowland, [https://www.dispatch.com/news/20200204/ohio-gop-sen-rob-portman-explains-why-he-backs-donald-trump-during-impeachment/1 Ohio GOP Sen. Rob Portman explains why he backs Donald Trump during impeachment] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108005238/https://www.dispatch.com/news/20200204/ohio-gop-sen-rob-portman-explains-why-he-backs-donald-trump-during-impeachment/1 |date=January 8, 2021 }}, Columbus Dispatch (February 4, 2020). and that he accepted that there was quid pro quo between Trump and Ukraine in which U.S. aid to Ukraine was on the line, but that he did not consider it to be an impeachable offense.Sabrina Eaton, [https://www.cleveland.com/open/2019/10/sen-rob-portman-still-plans-to-vote-for-president-donald-trump-despite-impeachment-inquiry.html Sen. Rob Portman still plans to vote for President Donald Trump despite impeachment inquiry], (October 29, 2019). Following the Senate trial of Trump, Portman voted to acquit Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.Sabrina Eaton, [https://www.cleveland.com/open/2020/02/ohios-sen-sherrod-brown-votes-to-convict-trump-sen-rob-portman-votes-to-acquit-watch-and-read-their-statements.html Ohio's Sen. Sherrod Brown votes to convict Trump; Sen Rob Portman votes to acquit: watch and read their statements], Cleveland.com (February 5, 2020). Portman also opposed proposals to formally censure Trump.

Portman was the Ohio state co-chair of Trump's 2020 re-election campaign.{{Cite web|title=Portman won't back Trump bid to toss election results as Ohioans ready buses to DC protest|author1=Rick Rouan |author2=Marc Kovac |url=https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/politics/elections/presidential/2021/01/04/sen-rob-portman-wont-object-presidential-election-results/4123228001/|newspaper=The Columbus Dispatch|date=January 5, 2021}} After Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election and Trump refused to concede, Portman initially refused to acknowledge Biden as the president-elect of the United States, although he did acknowledge that it was appropriate for Biden's transition to begin and that, contrary to Trump's false claims, there was no evidence of irregularities that would change the election outcome.{{Cite web|last=Eaton|first=Sabrina|title=Sen. Rob Portman still won't call Joe Biden "President-elect"|url=https://www.cleveland.com/open/2020/12/sen-rob-portman-still-wont-call-joe-biden-president-elect.html|date=December 1, 2020|publisher=Cleveland.com}}{{Cite web|last=Wartman|first=Scott|date=December 1, 2021|title=Rob Portman won't call Biden president-elect just yet. 'The recounts need to be completed.'|work=Cincinnati Enquirer|url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/politics/2020/11/17/election-2020-rob-portman-wont-call-biden-president-elect-yet/6316654002/}} Portman accepted the election results six weeks after the election, after the December 15 Electoral College vote.{{Cite web|last=Horn|first=Dan|title=Ohio Sen. Rob Portman and Rep. Steve Chabot accept election results, but many other Republicans silent|newspaper=Cincinnati Enquirer|date=December 15, 2020|url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2020/12/15/portman-accepts-biden-win-other-republicans-remain-silent/3904297001/}}

Portman opposed Trump's attempt to overturn the election results,{{Cite web|author=Emily DeCiccio|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/28/gop-sen-says-trump-impeachment-trial-could-set-a-dangerous-precedent.html|publisher=CNBC|date=January 28, 2021|title=GOP Sen. Rob Portman says Trump impeachment trial post-presidency could set a dangerous precedent}} and did not back a last-ditch effort by Trump's Republican allies in Congress to object to the formal counting of the electoral votes from swing states in which Biden defeated Trump. Portman said, "I cannot support allowing Congress to thwart the will of the voters" and voted against the objections. Congress's counting of the electoral votes was interrupted by a pro-Trump mob that attempted an insurrection at the Capitol; Portman said Trump "bears some responsibility" for the attack. After Trump was impeached by the House of Representatives for incitement of insurrection, Portman joined most Republican senators in an unsuccessful motion to dismiss the charges and avoid a Senate impeachment trial on the basis that Trump's term had expired and he had become a private citizen.{{Cite web|title=Portman Joins Most GOP Senators In Failed Attempt To Dismiss Impeachment Trial|date=January 26, 2021|author=Andy Chow|url=https://www.statenews.org/post/portman-joins-most-gop-senators-failed-attempt-dismiss-impeachment-trial|agency=Statehouse News Bureau}} On February 13, 2021, Portman voted to acquit Trump on charges of inciting the January 6 attack on the Capitol.{{cite news| url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/interactive/2021/senate-impeachment-whip-count-where-democrats-republicans-stand/| title = Live impeachment vote count: How senators voted to convict or acquit Trump - Washington Post| newspaper = The Washington Post}}

On May 27, 2021, along with five other Republicans and all present Democrats, Portman voted to establish a bipartisan commission to investigate the January 6 United States Capitol attack. The vote failed for the lack of 60 required "yes" votes.[https://www.rollcall.com/2021/05/28/republican-senators-torpedo-jan-6-commission/ Republican senators torpedo Jan. 6 commission], Roll Call, Chris Marquette, May 28, 2021. Retrieved May 29, 2021.

On abortion, Portman describes himself as pro-life. He voted in favor of banning abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy.{{Cite web|url=https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2018/1/portman-votes-to-protect-life-supports-pain-capable-unborn-child-protection-act|title=Portman Votes to Protect Life, Supports Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act - Press Releases - Newsroom - Rob Portman|website=www.portman.senate.gov|language=en|access-date=July 23, 2018|archive-date=September 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180924014657/https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2018/1/portman-votes-to-protect-life-supports-pain-capable-unborn-child-protection-act|url-status=dead}} Portman supports legal access to abortion in cases of rape and incest or if the woman's life is in danger.{{Cite news|url=http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/insight/2016/08/28/u-s--senate-race-where-rob-portman-ted-strickland-differ-on-hot-button-issues.html|title=U.S. Senate race: Where Rob Portman, Ted Strickland differ on hot-button issues|last=Dispatch|first=Jessica Wehrman, The Columbus|work=The Columbus Dispatch|access-date=July 23, 2018|language=en}} National Right to Life Committee and the Campaign for Working Families, both anti-abortion PACs, gave Portman a 100% rating in 2018; NARAL Pro-Choice America gives him a 0%, Planned Parenthood, which is pro-choice, gives him a lifetime 4% rating, and Population Connection, another pro-choice PAC, gave Portman an 11% rating in 2002.

In 2013, Portman sponsored a bill that would have made it a federal crime to transport a minor across state lines for an abortion if doing so would circumvent state parental consent or notification laws.{{cite news|date=January 24, 2013|newspaper=PolitiFact|url=https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2013/feb/06/rob-portman/sen-rob-portman-says-abortion-clinics-market-their/|title=Sen. Rob Portman says abortion clinics market their services to minors in states with stricter laws|access-date=March 15, 2013}}

In July 2022, Portman voted for the SFC Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act, which would provide care for veterans suffering from diseases caused by burn pit exposure while serving overseas. He put out a press release celebrating his vote,{{Cite web |date=June 16, 2022 |title=Portman Applauds Senate Passage of Bipartisan Legislation to Support our Veterans |url=https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-applauds-senate-passage-bipartisan-legislation-support-our-veterans |access-date=July 31, 2022 |website=Senator Rob Portman |language=en}} but changed his position when the House returned the final version of the bill to the Senate, and voted against it.{{Cite web |date=July 28, 2022 |title=Senate Republicans block legislation named after Ohio soldier meant to help veterans exposed to toxic burn pits |url=https://www.wkyc.com/article/news/politics/senate-republicans-block-legislation-named-after-ohio-soldier-veterans-exposed-toxic-burn-pits/95-8cb32cd7-bd3a-4a50-a7dd-f80357ec440a |access-date=July 31, 2022 |website=wkyc.com |language=en-US}}

Portman is a leading advocate for a balanced budget amendment.{{cite news|first=Frank|last=Lewis|url=http://portsmouth-dailytimes.com/bookmark/11169630|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130201042415/http://portsmouth-dailytimes.com/bookmark/11169630|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 1, 2013|title=Portman, other Republicans propose balanced budget amendment|work=Portsmouth Daily Times|year=2011|access-date=December 15, 2012}} Portman worked with Democratic Senator Jon Tester in 2012 to end the practice of government shutdowns and partnered with Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill on an inquiry into the Obama administration's public relations spending.Almanac of American Politics 2014, p. 1299. Portman has proposed "a balanced approach to the deficit" by reforming entitlement programs, writing "[r]eforms should not merely squeeze health beneficiaries or providers but should rather reshape key aspects of these programs to make them more efficient, flexible and consumer-oriented."{{cite news|first=Rob|last=Portman|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887324640104578161252979458718?mod=googlenews_wsj|title=A Truly Balanced Approach to the Deficit|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|location=New York City|date=December 10, 2012|access-date=December 15, 2012}} Portman became known for his ability to work in a bipartisan fashion when working to pass a repeal of the excise tax on telephone service.{{cite web|title=Sen. Rob Portman|url=http://www.nationaljournal.com/almanac/member/1888|website=National Journal Almanac|access-date=August 16, 2014}} He also unsuccessfully proposed an amendment to the surface transportation reauthorization bill to allow states to keep the gas tax money they collect, instead of sending it to Washington with some returned later. On August 10, 2021, he was one of 19 Republican senators to vote with the Democratic caucus in favor of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.{{Cite news|last=Farrington|first=Dana|date=August 10, 2021|title=Here Are The Republicans Who Voted For The Infrastructure Bill In The Senate|language=en|work=NPR|url=https://www.npr.org/2021/08/10/1026486578/senate-republican-votes-infrastructure-bill|access-date=November 6, 2021}} In October 2021, Portman voted with 10 other Republicans and every member of the Democratic caucus to end the filibuster on raising the debt ceiling,{{Cite web|author=Paul LeBlanc|title=Here are the 11 Senate Republicans that joined Democrats to break the debt limit deal filibuster|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/07/politics/republican-debt-ceiling-filibuster-list/index.html|access-date=October 8, 2021|website=CNN|date=October 8, 2021 }} but voted against the bill to raise the debt ceiling.{{Cite web|last=Meyer|first=Mal|date=October 8, 2021|title=Sen. Collins joins vote to break filibuster, but against $480B increase to debt ceiling|url=https://wgme.com/news/local/sen-collins-joins-vote-to-break-filibuster-but-against-480b-increase-to-debt-ceiling|access-date=October 10, 2021|website=WGME}}

While still in the U.S. House, Portman co-sponsored the Defense of Marriage Act, a bill passed in 1996 that banned federal recognition of same-sex marriage;{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/15/rob-portman-gay-marriage_n_2881805.html|title=Rob Portman Reverses Gay Marriage Stance After Son Comes Out|last=Reilly|first=Mollie|date=March 15, 2013|work=HuffPost|access-date=March 20, 2013}} in 1999, he voted for a measure prohibiting same-sex couples in Washington D.C. from adopting children.{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/bill/3604/8867/27008/adoption-restriction-amendment#.UUNqOr-2cy5|title=H Amdt 356 – Adoption Restriction Amendment – Key Vote|publisher=Project Vote Smart|access-date=March 20, 2013}} On March 14, 2013, Portman publicly announced that he had changed his stance on same-sex marriage, and now supported its legalization,{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-rob-portman-gay-marriage-20130315,0,1398205.story|title=GOP Sen. Rob Portman announces support for same-sex marriage|first=Michael A.|last=Memoli|work=Los Angeles Times|date=March 15, 2013}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2013/03/gop-senator-rob-portman-gives-his-support-same-sex-marriage/317338/|title=GOP Senator Rob Portman Gives His Support to Same-Sex Marriage|first=Alexander|last=Abad-Santos|website=The Atlantic |agency=The Atlantic Wire|date=March 15, 2013}}{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2013/03/rob-portman-gay-marriage-stance-88903.html|title=Rob Portman backs gay marriage after son comes out|first=Kevin |last=Cirilli|website=Politico|date=March 15, 2013}} becoming the first sitting Republican U.S. senator to do so.{{cite news |title=Gay Marriage Foes Yet to Prove Formidable Threat to Rob Portman |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/gay-marriage-foes-yet-prove-formidable-threat-rob-portman-n250131 |access-date=December 29, 2020 |work=NBC News |date=November 17, 2014 |language=en}} The change came two years after his son Will came out to Portman and his wife as gay in 2011.{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/sen-rob-portman-backs-same-sex-marriage/|title=Stunner: Sen. Rob Portman backs same-sex marriage|work=CBS News|date=March 15, 2013|access-date=March 15, 2013}} The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), which supports same-sex marriage and gay rights, gave Portman a 45% score in 2014 and an 85% score in 2016; the HRC also gives Portman a 100% rating for sharing its position on same-sex marriage.

In November 2013, Portman was one of 10 Republican senators to vote for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), after the Senate adopted an amendment he proposed to expand religious protections.{{cite news|first=Chris|last=Johnson|url=http://www.washingtonblade.com/2013/11/07/senate-passes-trans-inclusive-enda/|title=HISTORIC: SENATE PASSES ENDA|newspaper=Washington Blade|date=November 7, 2013}}

After the House passed a bill to federally protect gay marriage on July 19, 2022,{{cite web |title=Roll Call 373, Bill Number: H. R. 8404, Respect for Marriage Act, 117th Congress, 2nd Session |url=https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2022373 |website=Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives |publisher=clerk.house.gov |access-date=July 20, 2022 |language=en |date=July 19, 2022}} a press spokesman for Portman said he would cosponsor the bill in the Senate.{{cite news |last1=Eaton |first1=Sabrina |title=House passes bill to codify gay marriage over Republican objections led by Ohio's Jim Jordan |url=https://www.cleveland.com/news/2022/07/house-passes-bill-to-codify-gay-marriage-over-republican-objections-led-by-ohios-jim-jordan.html |access-date=July 20, 2022 |work=cleveland |date=July 19, 2022 |language=en}} He cosponsored the bill the following day.{{Cite web |title=Cosponsors - S.4556 - 117th Congress (2021-2022): Respect for Marriage Act |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/4556/cosponsors |access-date=October 31, 2022 |language=en |date=July 19, 2022 |website=congress.gov}} He was one of 12 Republicans in the Senate voting to advance and pass the Respect for Marriage Act, the legislation protecting federal same-sex marriage rights into federal law.{{Cite web |last=Metzger |first=Bryan |title=12 Republican senators broke with their party and voted for a bill to protect same-sex marriage |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/which-republican-senators-vote-for-same-sex-marriage-codification-bill-2022-11 |access-date=December 12, 2022 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}}

Portman voted for reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act in 2013.{{Cite news |title=Senate roll vote on Violence Against Women Act |url=https://news.yahoo.com/senate-roll-vote-violence-against-women-act-210921824--politics.html |date=February 12, 2013|work=Yahoo! News |access-date=April 9, 2015}}

In 2011, Portman voted to limit the government's ability to regulate greenhouse gas emissions, and in 2015, he voted to block the Clean Power Plan.U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 114th Congress - 1st Session, Vote Number 307, November 17, 2015. {{cite web| url = https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=114&session=1&vote=00307#top| title = U.S. Senate: U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 114th Congress - 1st Session}}U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 112th Congress - 1st Session, Vote Number 54, April 6, 2011. {{cite web| url = https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=112&session=1&vote=00054| title = U.S. Senate: U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 112th Congress - 1st Session}} In 2013, he voted for a point of order opposing a carbon tax or a fee on carbon emissions.U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 113th Congress - 1st Session, Vote Number 59, March 22, 2013. {{cite web| url = https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=113&session=1&vote=00059| title = U.S. Senate: U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 113th Congress - 1st Session}} In 2012, Portman said he wanted more oil drilling on public lands.{{cite news|date=December 31, 2012|title=Rob Portman claims oil production on public lands was down 14% in 2011: Politifact Ohio|newspaper=The Plain Dealer|publisher=Advance Media Publications|location=Cleveland, Ohio|url=http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2012/12/rob_portman_claims_oil_product.html|access-date=April 2, 2013}} Portman supported development of the Keystone XL pipeline, stating "The arguments when you line them up are too strong not to do this. I do think that at the end of the day the president [Obama] is going to go ahead with this."{{cite news|year=2012|title=Portman: Keystone pipeline would help Ohio|newspaper=The Columbus Dispatch|url=http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2012/03/20/portman-pipeline-would-help-ohio.html|access-date=November 24, 2012}}

In 2013, Portman co-sponsored a bill that would reauthorize and modify the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998 and would authorize the appropriation of $20.5 million annually through 2018 for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to mitigate the harmful effects of algal blooms and hypoxia.{{cite web|title=CBO – S. 1254|date=May 23, 2014|url=http://www.cbo.gov/publication/45393|publisher=Congressional Budget Office|access-date=June 9, 2014}}{{cite news|last1=Marcos|first1=Cristina|title=This week: Lawmakers to debate appropriations, VA, student loans|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/scheduling/208546-this-week-lawmakers-to-debate-appropriations-va-student-loans/|access-date=June 10, 2014|newspaper=The Hill|date=June 9, 2014}}

Portman co-sponsored an amendment to the 2017 Energy Bill that acknowledged that climate change is real and human activity contributes to the problem.{{cite web|date=April 28, 2016|title=These Republican Lawmakers Are Turning To Climate Action To Help Keep Their Seats|url=http://thinkprogress.org/these-republican-lawmakers-are-turning-to-climate-action-to-help-keep-their-seats-7b9b3893c9de|website=ThinkProgress}}

File:Rob portman with bush.jpg]]

Portman opposes U.S. ratification of the Convention on the Law of the Sea.{{Cite web|last=Wright|first=Austin|title=Law of the Sea treaty sinks in Senate|url=https://www.politico.com/news/stories/0712/78568.html|access-date=November 5, 2020|website=Politico|date=July 16, 2012 |language=en}}

In March 2016, Portman authored the bipartisan bill Countering Foreign Propaganda and Disinformation Act, along with Democratic Senator Chris Murphy. Congressman Adam Kinzinger introduced the U.S. House version of the bill.{{cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/5181|work=Congress.gov|title=H.R.5181 - Countering Foreign Propaganda and Disinformation Act of 2016|date=May 10, 2016|access-date=December 9, 2016|publisher=United States Congress|first=Adam|last=Kinzinger|author-link=Adam Kinzinger}} After the 2016 U.S. presidential election, worries grew that Russian propaganda on social media spread and organized by the Russian government swayed the outcome of the election,{{cite news|first=Jeremy B.|last=White|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/facebook-russia-ads-us-election-political-adverts-trump-putin-fake-news-a7933461.html|title=Facebook sold $100,000 of political ads to fake Russian accounts during 2016 US election|newspaper=The Independent|date=September 6, 2017}} and representatives in the U.S. Congress took action to safeguard the National security of the United States by advancing legislation to monitor incoming propaganda from external threats.{{cite news|access-date=December 1, 2016|first=Craig|last=Timberg|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/effort-to-combat-foreign-propaganda-advances-in-congress/2016/11/30/9147e1ac-e221-47be-ab92-9f2f7e69d452_story.html|title=Effort to combat foreign propaganda advances in Congress|date=November 30, 2016}}{{cite news|work=International Business Times UK edition|publisher=IBT Media|location=New York City|access-date=December 1, 2016|title=US House of representatives backs proposal to counter global Russian subversion|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/us-house-representatives-backs-proposal-counter-global-russian-subversion-1594342|date=December 1, 2016|first=Tom|last=Porter}} On November 30, 2016, legislators approved a measure within the National Defense Authorization Act to ask the U.S. State Department to take action against foreign propaganda through an interagency panel. The legislation authorized funding of $160 million over a two-year-period. The initiative was developed through the Countering Foreign Propaganda and Disinformation Act.

In 2018 Portman and Senator Ben Cardin co-authored the Israel Anti-Boycott Act, which would make it illegal for companies to engage in boycotts against Israel or Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. They promoted the bill and sought to integrate it into omnibus spending legislation to be signed by Trump.{{cite news |title=Why These Democratic Presidential Hopefuls Voted No on an anti-BDS Bill |url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/why-these-democratic-presidential-hopefuls-voted-no-on-an-anti-bds-bill-1.6919089 |work=Haaretz |date=February 11, 2019}}{{cite news |title=Don't Punish US Companies That Help End Abuses in the West Bank |url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/12/18/dont-punish-us-companies-help-end-abuses-west-bank |work=Human Rights Watch |date=December 18, 2018}}{{cite news |last1=Grim |first1=Ryan |last2=Emmons |first2=Alex |title=Senators Working to Slip Israel Anti-Boycott Law Through in Lame Duck |url=https://theintercept.com/2018/12/04/israel-anti-boycott-act-lame-duck/ |access-date=January 19, 2019 |work=The Intercept |date=December 4, 2018}}

Portman supported free trade agreements with Central America, Australia, Chile and Singapore, voted against withdrawing from the World Trade Organization, and was hailed by Bush for his "great record as a champion of free and fair trade."{{cite web | url=http://economyincrisis.org/content/rob-portman-gets-blasted-free-trade-record | title=Rob Portman Gets Blasted for Free Trade Record | access-date=April 20, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140421064302/http://economyincrisis.org/content/rob-portman-gets-blasted-free-trade-record | archive-date=April 21, 2014 | url-status=dead | df=mdy-all }}{{cite web|title=Remarks by the President at Swearing-In Ceremony for the United States Trade Representative|url=http://2001-2009.state.gov/r/pa/ei/wh/rem/46404.htm|publisher=U.S. Department of State|access-date=April 20, 2014|date=May 17, 2005}}

Portman has repeatedly supported legislation to treat currency manipulation by countries as an unfair trade practice and to impose duties on Chinese imports if China does not stop the practice.{{cite news|url=http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2011/10/rob_portman_a_former_trade_chi.html|title=Rob Portman, a former trade chief, will vote to treat China currency manipulation as trade violation|publisher=Cleveland.com|date=October 5, 2011|access-date=April 2, 2016}} In 2016, Portman opposed the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement because he said it does not address currency manipulation and includes less-strict country-of-origin rules for auto parts.{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-trade-tpp-portman-idUSKCN0VD2NF|title=Republican Senator Portman opposes TPP trade deal in present form|work=Reuters|date=February 4, 2016|access-date=April 2, 2016}} In April 2015, Portman co-sponsored an amendment to Trade Promotion Authority legislation which would require the Obama administration to seek enforceable rules to prevent currency manipulation by trade partners as part of TPP.{{cite news |title=Senate rejects automaker bid on currency manipulation |url=http://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/2015/04/22/senate-panel-vote-tougher-currency-trade-rules/26183665/ |newspaper=The Detroit News |access-date=April 23, 2015|date=April 22, 2015}}

In January 2018, Portman was one of 36 Republican senators who asked Trump to preserve the North American Free Trade Agreement.{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/policy/finance/371492-senate-republicans-call-on-trump-to-preserve-nafta/|title=Senate Republicans call on Trump to preserve NAFTA|date=January 30, 2018|first=Vicki|last=Needham|newspaper=The Hill}}

In November 2018, Portman was one of 12 Republican senators to sign a letter to Trump requesting the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement be submitted to Congress by the end of the month to allow a vote on it before the end of the year; the letter-writers cited concerns that "passage of the USMCA as negotiated will become significantly more difficult" if it had to be approved through the incoming 116th Congress, in which there was a Democratic majority in the House of Representatives.{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/11/21/trade-senate-republicans-trump-canada-mexico-1010053|title=GOP senators seek quick passage of Mexico-Canada trade deal|first=Burgess|last=Everett|publisher=Politico|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181121140824/https://www.politico.com/story/2018/11/21/trade-senate-republicans-trump-canada-mexico-1010053|archive-date=November 21, 2018|url-status=live}}

Portman has an "A" rating from the NRA Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF), which has endorsed Portman in past elections.{{cite web |title=NRA-PVF "A" Rated and Endorsed Rob Portman |url=https://www.nrapvf.org/campaigns/2016/rob-portman/ |website=nrapvf.org |publisher=NRA-PVF |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180914121942/https://www.nrapvf.org/campaigns/2016/rob-portman/ |archive-date=September 14, 2018 |language=en-US |url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Ohio|url=https://www.nrapvf.org/media/20101007/audio/oh-portman-for-senate|website=NRA-PVF|access-date=October 5, 2017|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171007221407/https://www.nrapvf.org/media/20101007/audio/oh-portman-for-senate|archive-date=October 7, 2017|url-status=live}} According to OpenSecrets, the NRA spent $3.06 million to support Portman between 1990 and 2018.{{cite web|author=Jessica Wehrman|title=NRA spent millions to keep Ohio Sen. Portman in office|url=https://www.daytondailynews.com/news/local-govt--politics/nra-spent-millions-keep-ohio-sen-portman-office/7MEWaRB7ZoEM9S3XRdZu4J/|newspaper=Dayton Daily News|date=February 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180215213118/https://www.daytondailynews.com/news/local-govt--politics/nra-spent-millions-keep-ohio-sen-portman-office/7MEWaRB7ZoEM9S3XRdZu4J/|archive-date=February 15, 2018|url-status=live|url-access=limited}}

In 2019, Portman was one of 31 Republican senators to cosponsor the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, a bill introduced by Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz that would allow persons concealed carry privileges in their home state to also carry concealed weapons in other states.{{cite press release|url=https://www.cruz.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=4268|title=Sens. Cruz, Cornyn file Concealed-Carry Reciprocity Bill|date=January 10, 2019}}

In 2022, Portman became one of ten Republican senators to support a bipartisan agreement on gun control, which included a red flag provision, a support for state crisis intervention orders, funding for school safety resources, stronger background checks for buyers under the age of 21, and penalties for straw purchases.{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/12/politics/senate-gun-safety-agreement/index.html|title=Bipartisan group of senators announces agreement on gun control|publisher=CNN|last1=Bash|first1=Dana|last2=Raju|first2=Manu|last3=Judd|first3=Donald|date=June 12, 2022|accessdate=June 12, 2022}}

Portman has worked to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.{{cite news |last1=Shesgreen |first1=Deirdre |title=Rob Portman's dilemma: How to repeal Obamacare without undermining opioid fight |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/06/09/rob-portmans-dilemma-how-repeal-obamacare-without-undermining-opioid-fight/102563348/ |access-date=December 30, 2020 |work=USA Today |date=June 9, 2017}} In 2017, he voted to repeal it.{{Cite news|last=Parlapiano|first=Alicia|title=How Each Senator Voted on Obamacare Repeal Proposals|newspaper=The New York Times |date=July 25, 2017 |language=en|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/07/25/us/politics/senate-votes-repeal-obamacare.html|access-date=July 23, 2018}} He opposed steep cuts to Medicaid because the expansion of the program had allowed some Ohioans to gain coverage, including some impacted by Ohio's opioid crisis.{{Cite news|url=https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/334834-gop-senators-bristle-at-trumps-medicaid-cuts/|title=GOP senators bristle at Trump's Medicaid cuts|last1=Hellmann|first1=Jessie|date=May 23, 2017|work=The Hill|access-date=June 12, 2017|last2=Weixel|first2=Nathaniel}} As a member of a group of 13 Republican senators tasked with writing a Senate version of the AHCA,{{cite news |last1=Pear |first1=Robert |title=13 Men, and No Women, Are Writing New G.O.P. Health Bill in Senate |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/08/us/politics/women-health-care-senate.html |work=The New York Times |date=May 8, 2017 }} he supported proposed cuts to Medicaid that would be phased in over seven years.{{Cite news|url=https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/336814-key-gop-centrists-open-to-ending-medicaid-expansion/|title=Key GOP centrists open to ending Medicaid expansion|last1=Boubein|first1=Rachel|date=June 7, 2017|work=The Hill|access-date=June 12, 2017|last2=Sullivan|first2=Peter}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.dispatch.com/news/20170609/portman-wants-phaseout-of-medicaid-expansion-funds-kasich-has-backed-in-past|title=Portman wants phaseout of Medicaid-expansion funds; Kasich has backed in past|last=Torry|first=Jack|date=June 10, 2017|work=The Columbus Dispatch|access-date=June 12, 2017|language=en}}

File:DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas Tours CHS Trail House.jpg tour the CHS Trail House, an Office of Refugee Resettlement facility that provides care for children before they are placed with a family member or sponsor.]]

In June 2018, Portman was one of 13 Republican senators to sign a letter to Attorney General Jeff Sessions requesting a moratorium on the Trump administration family separation policy while Congress drafted legislation.{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/393108-dozen-gop-senators-ask-administration-to-pause-separation-of/|title=13 GOP senators ask administration to pause separation of immigrant families|date=June 19, 2018|newspaper=The Hill}} In March 2019, he was one of a dozen Republicans who broke with their party, joining all Democrats, to vote for a resolution rejecting Trump's use of an emergency declaration to build a border wall.{{cite news |last1=Cochrane |first1=Emily |last2=Thrush |first2=Glenn |title=Senate Rejects Trump's Border Emergency Declaration, Setting Up First Veto |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/14/us/politics/senate-vote-trump-national-emergency.html |work=The New York Times |date=March 14, 2019 }} He later co-sponsored a bill to provide for congressional approval of national emergency declarations.{{Cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/member/rob-portman/P000449|title=Rob Portman|last=Portman|first=Rob|website=www.congress.gov|access-date=March 21, 2019}}

Portman opposed Trump's Muslim ban, saying the executive order was not "properly vetted" and that he supported the federal judges who blocked its implementation.{{cite web|last1=Timmons|first1=Heather|date=January 29, 2017|title=The short (but growing) list of Republican lawmakers who are publicly condemning Trump's "Muslim ban"|url=https://qz.com/897532/the-very-short-list-of-republican-congressmen-who-are-publicly-condemning-president-trumps-muslim-ban/|access-date=January 31, 2017|website=Quartz}}

In 2014, Portman voted against reauthorizing long-term unemployment benefits to 1.7 million jobless Americans. He expressed concern about the inclusion of a provision in the bill that would allow companies to make smaller contributions to employee pension funds.{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/06/unemployment-extension-senate_n_4739526.html|title=Unemployment Insurance Extension Fails Again In Senate|last=Delaney|first=Arthur|date=February 6, 2014|work=HuffPost|access-date=January 30, 2017}} In April 2014 Portman voted to extend federal funding for unemployment benefits. Federal funding had been initiated in 2008 and expired at the end of 2013.{{cite news | newspaper = The Washington Post | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/04/07/senate-passes-extension-to-unemployment-insurance-bill-heads-to-house/ | title = Senate passes extension to unemployment insurance, bill heads to House | first= Wesley | last = Lowery | access-date= July 21, 2015 | date = April 7, 2014}}

In 2014, Portman opposed the Minimum Wage Fairness Act, a bill to phase in, over two years, an increase in the federal minimum wage to $10.10 per hour.{{cite web|title=S. 1737 – Summary|date=April 2, 2014|url=http://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/senate-bill/1737|publisher=United States Congress|access-date=April 8, 2014}} The bill was strongly supported by President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats, but strongly opposed by congressional Republicans.{{cite news|last=Sink|first=Justin|title=Obama: Congress has 'clear choice' on minimum wage|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/202475-obama-congress-has-clear-choice-on-minimum-wage/|access-date=April 9, 2014|newspaper=The Hill|date=April 2, 2014}}{{cite news|last=Bolton|first=Alexander|title=Reid punts on minimum-wage hike|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/202964-reid-punts-on-minimum-wage-hike/|access-date=April 9, 2014|newspaper=The Hill|date=April 8, 2014}}{{cite news|last=Bolton|first=Alexander|title=Centrist Republicans cool to minimum wage hike compromise|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/202641-centrist-republicans-cool-to-wage-compromise/|access-date=April 9, 2014|newspaper=The Hill|date=April 4, 2014}}

In 2015, Portman voted for an amendment to establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund to allow employees to earn paid sick time.{{cite news |title=Senate passes budget after lengthy, politically charged 'Vote-a-rama' |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/how-senators-are-using-vote-a-rama-to-score-political-points-for-2016/2015/03/26/0e8d3970-d3f6-11e4-ab77-9646eea6a4c7_story.html |date=March 27, 2015 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=April 9, 2015}}

File:Rob Portman and Brett Kavanaugh.jpg in July 2018]]

In September 2018, Portman said he would support Trump's nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, saying, "The Brett Kavanaugh I know is a man of integrity and humility". Portman did not call for an investigation by the FBI for sexual assault allegations.{{cite press release|url=https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=press-releases&id=44F989A8-7FE4-4DC7-B506-55D3020ABEFB|title=Portman Statement Following Today's Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing|website=portman.senate.gov|date=September 27, 2018}}

In September 2020, Portman supported a vote on Trump's nominee to fill the U.S. Supreme Court vacancy left by the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg less than six weeks before the 2020 presidential election. In April 2016, Portman said that Obama's nominee to the Supreme Court, who was nominated eight months before the election, should not be considered by the Senate, as it was "a very partisan year and a presidential election year ... it's better to have this occur after we're past this presidential election."{{cite news |last1=Desjardins |first1=Lisa |title=What every Republican senator has said about filling a Supreme Court vacancy in an election year |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/what-every-republican-senator-has-said-about-filling-a-supreme-court-vacancy-in-an-election-year |access-date=October 1, 2020 |work=PBS NewsHour |date=September 22, 2020}}

Portman has been involved in efforts to end human trafficking. As a member of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, he began investigating sex trafficking in 2015. The investigation found that classified advertising website Backpage was aware that the website was being used to sell young girls for sex. Portman sponsored the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act, which clarified sex trafficking laws to make it illegal to knowingly assist, facilitate, or support sex trafficking. SESTA was passed by Congress and signed into law by Trump in April 2018.{{cite news |last1=Wehrman |first1=Jessica |title=Senate passes sex trafficking bill pushed by Portman |url=https://www.dispatch.com/news/20180321/senate-passes-sex-trafficking-bill-pushed-by-portman |access-date=December 30, 2020 |work=The Columbus Dispatch |language=en |archive-date=February 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204184057/https://www.dispatch.com/news/20180321/senate-passes-sex-trafficking-bill-pushed-by-portman |url-status=dead }}

{{BLP sources section|date=February 2024}}

When Joe Biden was declared the winner of the 2020 presidential election, Portman was one of the few Republicans to say that he would certify the electoral college vote.{{citation needed|date=November 2022}} During Trump's second impeachment trial, Portman said, "I will keep an open mind when deciding whether to convict".{{citation needed|date=November 2022}} He ultimately voted not guilty, but said, "Trump's comments leading up to the Capitol attack were partly responsible for the violence".{{citation needed|date=November 2022}}

Portman was one of the main senators involved in crafting the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure plan that passed the Senate in August 2021.{{citation needed|date=November 2022}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = 2010 Ohio U.S. Senator Republican primary results{{cite web|url=https://www.sos.state.oh.us/elections/election-results-and-data/2010-elections-results/u.-s.-senator---republican-may-4-2010/|website=Ohio Secretary of State|title=U. S. SENATOR - REPUBLICAN: MAY 4, 2010|accessdate=March 22, 2021|archive-date=May 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210522122842/https://www.sos.state.oh.us/elections/election-results-and-data/2010-elections-results/u.-s.-senator---republican-may-4-2010/|url-status=dead}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Rob Portman

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 667,369

| percentage = 100.00%

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 667,369

| percentage = 100.00%

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin

| title = United States Senate election in Ohio, 2010{{cite web | url=http://vote.sos.state.oh.us/pls/enrpublic/f?p=130:6:0 | title=State of Ohio 2010 General Election November 2, 2010 Unofficial Results | work=Ohio Secretary of State | date=November 2, 2010 | access-date=November 6, 2010 | url-status=dead | archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20111109051100/http%3A//vote%2Esos%2Estate%2Eoh%2Eus/pls/enrpublic/f?p%3D130%3A6%3A0 | archive-date= November 9, 2011 }}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

| candidate = Rob Portman

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 2,168,742

| percentage = 56.85%

| change = -6.61%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| candidate = Lee Fisher

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| votes = 1,503,297

| percentage = 39.40%

| change = +2.85%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| candidate = Eric Deaton

| party = Constitution Party (United States)

| votes = 65,856

| percentage = 1.72%

| change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| candidate = Michael Pryce

| party = Independent (United States)

| votes = 50,101

| percentage = 1.31%

| change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| candidate = Daniel LaBotz

| party = Socialist Party USA

| votes = 26,454

| percentage = 0.69%

| change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| candidate = Arthur Sullivan

| party = write-in

| votes = 648

| percentage = 0.02%

| change = N/A

}}

{{Election box majority

| votes = 665,445

| percentage = 17.44%

| change =

}}

{{Election box total

| votes = 3,815,098

| percentage = 100.00%

| change =

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing

| winner = Republican Party (United States)

| loser = Democratic Party (United States)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = 2016 Ohio U.S. Senator Republican primary results{{cite news | url=http://www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/elections/Research/electResultsMain/2016Results.aspx | title=Official Results for 2016 Primary Election | publisher=Ohio Secretary of State | access-date=July 20, 2016 | archive-date=July 13, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170713135350/https://www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/elections/Research/electResultsMain/2016Results.aspx | url-status=dead }}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Rob Portman (incumbent)

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 1,336,686

| percentage = 82.16%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Don Eckhart

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 290,268

| percentage = 17.84%

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 1,626,954

| percentage= 100.00%

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin

| title = United States Senate election in Ohio, 2016{{citation | url=http://www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/elections/Research/electResultsMain/2016Results.aspx | title=Ohio State Official Election Results | access-date=December 20, 2016 | archive-date=July 13, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170713135350/https://www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/elections/Research/electResultsMain/2016Results.aspx | url-status=dead }}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

| candidate = Rob Portman (incumbent)

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 3,118,567

| percentage = 58.03%

| change = +1.18%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| candidate = Ted Strickland

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| votes = 1,996,908

| percentage = 37.16%

| change = -2.24%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| candidate = Tom Connors

| party = Independent (United States)

| votes = 93,041

| percentage = 1.73%

| change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| candidate = Joseph R. DeMare

| party = Green Party (United States)

| votes = 88,246

| percentage = 1.64%

| change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| candidate = Scott Rupert

| party = Independent (United States)

| votes = 77,291

| percentage = 1.44%

| change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| candidate = James Stahl

| party = write-in

| votes = 111

| percentage = 0.00%

| change = N/A

}}

{{Election box total

| votes = 5,374,164

| percentage = 100.0%

| change = N/A

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing

| winner = Republican Party (United States)

}}

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Portman married Jane Dudley in July 1986. Dudley, who previously worked for Democratic Congressman Tom Daschle, "agreed to become a Republican when her husband agreed to become a Methodist."{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/04/us/politics/rob-portman-a-master-of-washingtons-inner-workings.html|title=A Senator Who Knows Washington's Ways|last=Zeleny|first=Jeff|date=July 3, 2012|work=The New York Times|access-date=July 3, 2012}} The Portmans attend church services at Hyde Park Community United Methodist Church.{{cite news|url=http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/10/26/what-is-rob-portmans-religion/|title=What Is Rob Portman's Religion|work=HuffPost|year=2010|access-date=November 24, 2012}}The couple is cited as "Mrs. Jane Dudley Portman and Mr. Robert Portman" in the Giving Reports of the Forsythe County Day School, which are available online at fcds.org. She is also cited as Jane Dudley Portman in property records available at http://www.city-data.com/hamilton-county/M/Miami-Avenue-31.html, where she is listed as the owner of property the couple once owned together. The Portmans have three children. Portman still owns the Golden Lamb Inn with his brother Wym Portman and sister Ginna Portman Amis.{{Cite news|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vx2OQrBhSN4C&q=Jones+Comisar+in+Portman&pg=PA54|title=Historic Warren County: an illustrated history|isbn=9781935377092|access-date=December 15, 2012|last1=Pauwels|first1=Cynthia L.|year=2009|publisher=HPN Books }} In 2004, a Dutch conglomerate purchased the Portman Equipment Company. Portman had researched the firm's local acquisitions, stating "It's a concept I've heard described as 'Glocalism.' All these companies are trying to achieve economies of scale. This lets us develop a network and coverage globally. But you can still have the local spirit, the local name and the customer intimacy to accomplish great things."{{cite news|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2004/03/01/story2.html?page=all|title=Dutch firm buys equipment business owned by Rep. Portman's family|date=March 1, 2004|newspaper=Cincinnati Business Courier|access-date=April 2, 2013}} A July 2012 article about Portman stated that in 40 years, his only citation has been a traffic ticket for an improper turn while driving.{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/OTUS/rob-portmans-thin-opposition-research-file-40-years/story?id=16652138|title=Rob Portman's thin opposition research file: In 40 years, one traffic ticket|date=June 26, 2012|publisher=Yahoo! News|access-date=December 8, 2012}} Portman is an avid kayaker, is fluent in Spanish, and enjoys bike rides.{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/veepstakes-things-rob-portman/story?id=16797806|title=Veepstakes: 9 Things You Didn't Know About Rob Portman|work=ABC News|access-date=April 2, 2013}}

In December 2004, Portman and Cheryl Bauer published a book on the 19th-century Shaker community at Union Village, in Turtlecreek Township, Warren County, Ohio. The book was titled Wisdom's Paradise: The Forgotten Shakers of Union Village.{{cite book|title=Wisdom's Paradise: The Forgotten Shakers of Union Village|last1=Portman|first1=Rob|first2=Cheryl|publisher=Orange Frazer Pr Inc|year=2004|isbn=978-1882203406|last2=Bauer}}

On August 23, 2022, Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky awarded Portman the Order of Merit, first class, "For significant personal merits in strengthening interstate cooperation, support of state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, and significant contribution to the popularization of the Ukrainian state in the world."{{Cite web | title=УКАЗ ПРЕЗИДЕНТА УКРАЇНИ №595/2022 — Офіційне інтернет-представництво Президента України | url=https://www.president.gov.ua/documents/5952022-43765 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220829094807/https://www.president.gov.ua/documents/5952022-43765 | access-date=2025-04-03 | archive-date=2022-08-29}} The Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA) honored Portman with several awards during his Senate tenure, including the Friend of UNIS Ukrainian Democracy Award in 2014, the Sevchenko Freedom Award in 2016, and the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022.{{Cite web |title=Sen. Portman receives Ukrainian community's highest honor |url=https://highlandcountypress.com/index.php/news/sen-portman-receives-ukrainian-communitys-highest-honor |access-date=2024-05-29 |website=The Highland County Press |language=en}} In 2022, he received the Star of Ukraine Award from the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation and the Appreciation Award from the United Ukrainian Organizations of Ohio.{{Cite web |title=Former Senator Portman on a Strategic Policy for Ukraine – U.S.-Ukraine Foundation |url=https://usukraine.org/blog/portman-on-a-strategic-policy-for-ukraine |access-date=2024-05-29 |website=usukraine.org}}{{Cite web |date=2022-09-27 |title=United Ukrainian Organizations of Ohio (UUOhio) - Українські Злучені Організації Огайо (УЗО)Political Support |url=https://uuohio.org/political-support/ |access-date=2024-05-29 |website=United Ukrainian Organizations of Ohio (UUOhio) - Українські Злучені Організації Огайо (УЗО) |language=en-US}}

• {{Flag icon|Ukraine}} Ukraine
• Honorary Diploma of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (2024) – Awarded by Ukrainian Parliament; presented by Ruslan Stefanchuk, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada.Senator (Ret) Rob Portman (2024) receives Ukraine Parliament Medal. In: Dr R Don Green, PhD (23 JAN 2025). About the Ukraine Parliament Medal: awarded to Foreign Citizens “For services to Ukraine.” Archived in the Military Academy – Allied Defence Group, private Knights Univ. (Ko’G).[https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ukrainian-parliament-awards-us-bipartisan-delegations-in-kyiv-302254471.html Ukrainian Parliament Awards US Bipartisan Delegation]. Link still valid, January 23, 2025.

• {{cite book|first1=Michael|last1=Barone|first2=Grant|last2=Ujifusa|title=The Almanac of American Politics, 1994|location=Washington DC|date=1993|isbn=0-89234-058-4}}
• {{cite book|first1=Michael|last1=Barone|first2=Grant|last2=Ujifusa|title=The Almanac of American Politics, 1998|url=https://archive.org/details/almanacofamerica00mich_4|url-access=registration|location=Washington DC|date=1997|isbn=0-89234-080-0}}
• Michael Barone, Richard E. Cohen, and Grant Ujifusa. The Almanac of American Politics, 2002. Washington, D.C.: National Journal, 2001. {{ISBN|0-89234-099-1}}
• {{cite journal|publisher=CQ Press|journal=Congressional Quarterly Almanac, 49th Edition, 103rd Congress, 1st Session|location=Washington, D.C.|date=1994|isbn=1-56802-020-1|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/congressionalqua49neil|title=CQ Almanac 1993}}
• {{cite journal|journal=Congressional Quarterly|title=Politics in America, 1992: The 102nd Congress|location=Washington, D.C.|publisher=CQ Press|date=1991|isbn=0-87187-599-3}}

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